EPA Plans Major Cuts to Research Office, Threatening Over 1,000 Jobs
The EPA plans to dismantle its scientific research office as part of a 65% budget cut, a move that could lead to more than 1,000 job losses and is being criticized for compromising public health and environmental protections.
Published on April 1, 2025
In a controversial move announced on March 18, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared plans to eliminate its scientific research office as part of efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. The administration, led by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is proposing a 65% budget cut for the office, a measure that is expected to result in more than 1,000 job losses among chemists, biologists, and toxicologists. The decision includes dissolving the Office of Research and Development and reassigning the remaining staff to other parts of the agency.
This restructuring forms part of a broader agenda pursued by the Trump administration, which has already seen significant staff terminations and policy reversals across various federal departments. Critics argue that dismantling a research unit established by Congress may undermine the EPA’s commitment to maintaining science-based public health and environmental protections, raising concerns that the move prioritizes economic efficiency and energy policies over community safety and environmental stewardship.